The Miss Universe pageant is once again marred by scandal.
This time a contestant’s gender is in question, and for any would-be backseat investigator quick to comment that the controversy can be solved within the first word of the exhibition, it’s more complicated than that.
Canadian contestant Jenna Talackova, 23, is an ex-man — not as much in the realm of adamantium claws and telepathy, but as in having undergone gender redefining surgery.
According to a CNN report, Talackova received sexual reassignment surgery when she was 19, four years ago. She claimed that she knew she was a female since she was 4-years-old, and it didn’t take long for her to decide to make the transition from urinals to the lady’s room.
This has lead to difficulties with admittance into the Miss Universe contest, originating with her home country that deemed she failed to meet gender requirements.
And why not?
As it stands now the pageant already contains similar disqualifications, including barring contestants who have given birth, parented a child, or are or ever have been married — including annulments.
That’s just one birth pill or abortion shy of the many talking points involving the punditry dubbed “War on Women,” all conveniently wrapped in one neat little package.
Have at thee.
After some initial legal bickering, Talackova was eventually allowed to compete, which ultimately lead to the reversal of the rule that excluded those who were not naturally born females.
For a scant five days, the allowance of future transgender contestants into the competition depended on the approval of NBC as well as co-owner Donald Trump.
And if there’s ever been anyone qualified to make a non-sexist, impartial, do-or-die decision, it’s Trump. After all, here’s a man whom former Miss Universe Carrie Prejean — herself a subject to scandal — claims in her book used to require contestants to strut around in front of him so he could differentiate between those he did and didn’t find sexually appealing.
Good old Trump.
Naturally, international outrage has blossomed on both sides of the issue asking whether or not the pageant should allow transgenders, neither side being without merit and absurdity.
Many naysayers, most especially those from the heterosexual male camp, have a tough time seeing past the subliminal penis in a two-piece, while a majority of supporting advocates stress the broadening of gay and lesbian rights, which really has nothing to do with the conversation.
Scandal is far from new territory for the exhibition. During its 60 year existence the organization has been tied to multiple disparaging incidents, including numerous sex scandals, document forgery and alleged underage admittance to name a few. Despite the controversy, the pageant has continued.
Realistically speaking, it’s likely the pageant has actually benefited from the controversies as far as viewership is concerned.
After all, who doesn’t like a good scandal?
